Dahlia plant named ‘LOMDAHBRS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dahlia  cultivar named ‘LOMDAHBRS’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive strong red flowers, a compact plant with a floriferous habit, and free branching. The new variety is a  Dahlia,  normally produced as an outdoor ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Dahlia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘LOMDAHBRS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a result of a planned breedingprogram directed by the inventor, Henry Lommerse a citizen of theNetherlands. The parent is an undistributed, unpatented proprietaryvariety Dahlia hybrid ‘25079’ and the pollen parent is theundistributed, unpatented proprietary variety Dahlia hybrid ‘25075.’ Thenew variety was discovered as a seedling in June 2006, by the inventorin a commercial research greenhouse in Mariahout, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed in 2008, at a research greenhouse inMariahout, the Netherlands. Multiple generations have since beenproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LOMDAHBRS’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LOMDAHBRS’ as a new and distinct Dahliacultivar:

-   -   1. Sturdy plant with a compact habit    -   2. Strong red flower color    -   3. Good branching characteristics    -   4. Floriferous habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Dahlia hybrid ‘25079’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ produce more flowers,bloom for a longer period of time and produce more ray florets than‘25079’. Additionally, plants of the parent variety are less sturdy andmore open then ‘LOMDAHBRS.’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Dahlia hybrid ‘25075’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBRS’ producemore flowers with a brighter red color, and foliage that is moreresistant to damage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘LOMDAHBRS’ can be compared to the commercial variety Dahlia hybrida‘Singer’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,315. The two varieties are similar inmany horticultural characteristics, including having a similar flowercolor. However, plants of ‘LOMDAHBRS’ differ in producing more branches,and a more compact plant shape than ‘Singer.’ Additionally plants of‘LOMDAHBRS’ begin flowering earlier from a rooted cutting than ‘Singer.’Flower form is also different between the two varieties, with‘LOMDAHBRS’ producing a more spherical, less flattened flower form.

The new variety can also be compared to the commercial varietyunpatented Dahlia variabilis, ‘Dapared’. U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,143.Dahlia ‘LOMDAHBRS’ and Dahlia ‘Dapared’ are similar in manyhorticultural characteristics, including a similar flower color.However, plants of ‘LOMDAHBRS’ are more vigorous, produce more flowersand branches per plant, and larger flowers than ‘Dapared.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘LOMDAHBRS’ grown in a outdoors, in Mariahout, theNetherlands, in a commercial 20 cm container.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 70 days from a rootedcutting. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LOMDAHBRS’ plants grown outdoors, in theground during the Summer months in Mariahout, the Netherlands. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 16° C. to 27° C. daytime and 16° to 18°C. at night. One treatment of the growth regulator daminozide 85% at arate of approximately 0.1%, was applied at approximately 2 weeks afterplanting the rooted cutting. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrid ‘LOMDAHBRS.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots:    -   -   Summer.—13-15 days days at approximately 20-18 (day-night) °            C.        -   Winter.—19-23 days at approximately 18-16 (day-night) ° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.-   Tuber description:    -   -   Average length.—10.5 cm, average thickness: 1.1 cm, Coloured            near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D.-   Propagation method: Vegetative cuttings.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 70 days from a rooted cutting.-   Growth habit: Broad inverted triangular, broad upright.-   Pot size of plant described: Field grown.-   Height: Approximately 39.6 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 57.4 cm.-   Growth rate: Low to moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Very free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 22.7 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 27.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Internode length: Average 5.1 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Compound, with 3 or 5 leaflets per leaf.        -   Shape.—Overall shape ovate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 per branch (4 pairs).        -   Average overall length.—11.4 cm.        -   Average overall width.—10.4 cm.-   Individual leaflet blades:    -   -   Shape of blade.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—No leaf pubescence on upper side; veins on under            side and margins sparsely pubescent, average length of            hairs: 0.2 mm, coloured green-white, too small for the            colour to be accurately measured with R.H.S.-Colour Chart.        -   Aspect.—Leaves placed in an average angle of 40° to lateral            branch.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137C. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 148B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.25 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Texture: Smooth. No stipules present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Ten weeks.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Fully double, straight on    top of peduncle (average angle 0°) to slightly outward (average    angle 30°).-   Rate of flower opening: 14 to 21 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approx. 2 weeks.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 10.4 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 4.9 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—Approx. 120.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate, in 6 rows.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate, base fused.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, slightly velvety.-   Color:    -   -   When opening, upper surface.—Near RHS Red 46A.        -   When opening, lower surface.—Near RHS Orange-Red N34A.        -   Fully opened, upper surface.—Near RHS Red 46B.        -   Fully opened, lower surface.—Near RHS Orange-Red N34A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—9.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Shape (overall).—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Bluntly acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 8.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Angle.—About 0° to the lateral branch (=straight on top of            lateral branch).        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glossy.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Fragrance: Very faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—A few (average: 5) disc florets in the centre of the            inflorescence carries an average of 4 stamen.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 14A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 17A. Quantity: Low to            moderate.-   Pistil: No pistil present.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Dahlia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 10 to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named‘LOMDAHBRS’ as herein illustrated and described.